His eccentric and moving characters have earned him a staggering number of awards and nominations over the years. He has worked in both independent and big-budget movies. Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands, and Black Mass are three of his most well-known films, among the many others he has given audiences along the way.
In addition, Depp has worked on successful franchises like Fantastic Beasts and Pirates of the Caribbean. In the world of cinema, Johnny Depp has carved a niche for himself with his versatile performances. From captivating audiences with his eccentric portrayals to leaving a lasting impression with his remarkable acting skills, Depp has delivered some unforgettable performances throughout his career. Here is a list of the top 10 best Johnny Depp movies ranked, showcasing his talent and range as an actor.
Spanning various genres and characters, these movies have showcased Depp’s ability to immerse himself in diverse roles. From his breakout role as Edward Scissorhands to his portrayal of the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, Depp’s filmography is filled with gems.
Whether it’s the dark and mysterious “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” or the quirky and whimsical “Alice in Wonderland,” Depp has consistently delivered captivating performances. Fans of Depp’s work can explore his filmography to discover the magic and versatility he brings to each project. With a career spanning decades, Johnny Depp has undoubtedly made an indelible mark on the world of cinema, leaving audiences enthralled with his memorable characters and extraordinary talent.
Depp has reportedly moved on with his life and career after spending several months in the spotlight due to the public trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard. This past May saw the release of his most recent movie, Jeanne du Barry, which was produced and directed by Mawenn and co-starred Depp and Heard as Louis XV.
Even though Depp’s contributions to the entertainment industry over the course of his career are quite difficult to imagine without, his career trajectory would have been completely different if it weren’t for a significant turning point in his life.
When he was a young man, he was determined to pursue a career in music, and it was none other than Nicolas Cage, a fellow industry titan, who convinced him otherwise. Depp and Cage became friends at that time, and the latter encouraged him to pursue acting by helping him get his first audition. Despite the years and the variety of projects that Johnny worked on, some of his early films are still regarded as some of his best works. Here is a list of his top 10 early films in order.
You have to wait 20 seconds.
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare:
Depp’s career was launched by A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984, so perhaps that’s why he chose to return to the series with a brief cameo in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, the sixth entry in the series. While Freddy Krueger is once again on a killing spree in this 1991 film directed by Rachel Talalay, this time it might not last for long because Maggie, his long-lost daughter, is determined to put an end to his rampage once and for all.
Among the actors who appeared in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare were Robert Englund, Lisa Zane, Lezlie Deane, and Shon Greenblatt.
Although this production performed better at the box office than the previous installment in the series, it received very negative reviews.
Private Resort:
Producer R. Ben Efraim and director George Bowers teamed up to score the 1985 film Private Resort after working on the comedies Private Lessons and Private School. In this comedy, Rob Morrow made his acting debut on the big screen. Jack and Ben are two teenagers who check into a posh Florida resort in an effort to meet the attractive young women there. But while there, they run into The Maestro, a professional thief who is attempting to steal a visitor’s diamond necklace. Hector Elizondo, Dody Goodman, Tony Azito, and Hilary Shepard Turner are also featured in this production in addition to Rob Morrow and Johnny Depp.
Slow Burn:
As Jacob Asch, a private investigator hired to find Gerald McMurty’s ex-wife and son, Eric Roberts plays the role of Jacob in the 1986 movie Slow Burn. But what Jacob doesn’t expect is that his attraction to this woman will be so strong that he will quickly find himself caught up in a sticky situation with betrayals, mysteries, and deaths.
The novel Castles Burning by Arthur Lyons served as the basis for this television film, which Matthew Chapman directed. Beverly D’Angelo, Dennis Lipscomb, Raymond J. Barry, and Johnny Depp, who portrays McMurty’s son Donnie, are also included in the cast in addition to Roberts.
Cry-Baby:
The John Waters movie Cry-Baby was released in 1990, and despite being a financial failure, it has since gained cult classic status and inspired the creation of a critically acclaimed Broadway musical. This film, starring Depp, is set in the 1950s in Baltimore, a time when the city’s teenagers were divided into various subcultures. Depp plays Cry-Baby Walker, the leader of the “drapes,” a group of young criminals who fall in love with Allison, a girl from a wealthy family who is a member of the “squares.”
As a result, these two young people from completely different backgrounds begin a love affair that will change the town, but it won’t be so simple to pursue because their social groups are so strongly opposed to it. In this teen musical comedy, Depp is supported by a number of actors, including Amy Locane, Polly Bergen, Susan Tyrrell, Iggy Pop, Ricki Lake, and Traci Lords.
Arizona Dream:
Emir Kusturica won the Silver Bear for his film Arizona Dream, which he also co-wrote and directed, at the Berlin International Film Festival. With Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis, Faye Dunaway, Lili Taylor, and Vincent Gallo in the lead roles, this surrealistic comedy-drama from 1993 tells the tale of Axel, a young man who tags fish in New York City but who eventually becomes involved in his uncle’s family business in Arizona.
He meets Elaine and her stepdaughter Grace there and develops a complicated friendship with both of them that will cause him a lot of issues. Arizona Dream was eventually trimmed from its original length of more than four hours to just over two hours for the cinematic release.
Benny & Joon:
Jeremiah S. Chechik’s 1993 romantic comedy Benny & Joon, which stars Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Aidan Quinn, was released in theatres. Quinn plays Ben, a young man who looks after his mentally ill sister Joon after their parents pass away, in the movie. They eventually meet Sam, a young misfit who Ben takes into their home at his sister’s request, and their lives take a turn. But when Sam starts dating Joon and falls in love with her, Ben snaps and wants to end their relationship as soon as possible. Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, C.C.H. Pounder, and Dan Hedaya support the main actors in the cast.
Platoon:
Platoon, a 1986 movie written and directed by Oliver Stone, was based on his own military service experiences, according to Screen Rant. His Vietnam War trilogy begins with this movie, which was followed in 1989 and 1993 by Born on the Fourth of July and Heaven & Earth, respectively. In this play, Charlie Sheen plays Chris Taylor, a student who enlists in the military in 1967. This decision will undoubtedly alter his life and put his entire worldview to the test. Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Kevin Dillon, and Johnny Depp—who plays Gator Lerner—join Sheen in the cast.
When it was first released, Platoon received a lot of praise and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. It also achieved success at the box office, taking in more than $138 million.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape:
The movie What’s Eating from 1993 Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio received a lot of praise for their performances in Gilbert Grape. At the age of 19, DiCaprio received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in this Lasse Hallström film. This play, which was based on Peter Hedges’ novel of the same name, follows Gilbert, a 20-something from a small town who has a lot more worries than the typical man his age.
Gilbert spends his days working in a grocery store feeling miserable because he has to support his morbidly obese mother and his younger brother who has intellectual disabilities. That is, until a young woman enters his life and completely changes everything.
Darlene Cates, Mary Steenburgen, John C. Reilly, Juliette Lewis, and others complete the cast of this well-liked movie.
A Nightmare on Elm Street:
Depp made his film acting debut in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, which would go down in history as one of the greatest horror films ever made. In this Wes Craven classic, a group of teenagers are being stalked by Freddy Krueger, a vengeful killer who can enter his victims’ dreams and murder them there. Freddy Krueger also has the ability to kill his victims in real life. Nancy and her boyfriend Glen are forced to dig deep in order to survive and put an end to Freddy’s killing spree after the death of Nancy’s best friend Tina and after Nancy had dreams about this killer.
Robert Englund, who later became known for playing Freddy Krueger, leads the cast of this movie as the title character. Heather Langenkamp and Johnny Depp portray the characters of Nancy and Glen, respectively. A Nightmare on Elm Street was such a success upon release that it gave birth to a franchise that has since grown to include nine films and other works.
Edward Scissorhands:
The film Edward Scissorhands, which is still regarded as one of Johnny Depp’s best works, is at the top of this list. The director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp worked together on this 1990 movie for the first time; it became one of cinema history’s classics and the director’s most intimate work.
Burton’s production, which is based on his childhood in Burbank, California, features Edward, a humanoid created by a scientist who dies before he can finish it.
As a result, Edward is left without hands and has large scissor blades in place of them. This, combined with the way he looks, makes him an outcast. His life abruptly changes when Peg, a door-to-door saleswoman, comes across him and invites him to her home, where he meets her daughter and falls in love with her right away. Edward eventually runs into trouble because the suburbanites are not as sympathetic as Peg.
This critically acclaimed production stars Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, and Vincent Price, and Depp plays the lead role in what would be his last performance before passing away. Burton’s reputation as a director was further cemented by Edward Scissorhands, which won numerous awards and performed well at the box office.
13 thoughts on “Top 10 Best Johnny Depp Movies Ranked”